Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Robert Jackson Bennett, Leslye Penelope, M.J. Kuhn and Jonathan Nevair as they crack open heists and capers. During the panel they discuss why heists and capers are so damn cool, the fundamental elements of heists, incorporating heist narratives into sci-fi and fantasy worlds, character building, dream heist teams, tropes, “competency porn” and more.
SFF Addicts TV Club: LOTR: The Rings of Power S01 Review (with P. Djèlí Clark, Connor M. Caplan & Sara Carothers)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors P. Djèlí Clark (aka the Disgruntled Haradrim), Connor M. Caplan and Fiction Fans podcast co-host Sara Carothers as they review season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. During the panel they discuss their personal relationships with the LOTR franchise, its status as a pop culture phenomenon, first impressions of the new show, its characters, narratives, pacing and visuals, hopes for season two, the big reveal of who is Sauron(!) and more.
Author Chat: Mary Robinette Kowal
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal for a chat about her new novel The Spare Man, her Glamourist Histories and The Lady Astronaut series, the modern space race, building off of Dashiell Hammett’s book The Thin Man (and its movie adaptations), what makes a good mystery, committed couples, compelling characters, dogs, puppeteering and much more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 29: Modern Sci-Fi Thrillers (with Mary Robinette Kowal, Sylvain Neuvel, Nia “N. E.” Davenport, James Kennedy & Jane Gilmartin)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Mary Robinette Kowal, Sylvain Neuvel, Nia “N. E.” Davenport, James Kennedy and Jane Gilmartin as they unpack the structure and suspense of sci-fi thrillers. During the panel they discuss the essential elements of thrillers, melding thrillers with science fiction, willful transgressions and inciting incidents, pacing and tension, reader expectations, worldbuilding, character decisions and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 28: Memorable Characters in SFF (with Fiction Fans & Connor M. Caplan)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and friends of the show Sara Carothers and Lilly Ellison (co-hosts of Fiction Fans podcast) and author Connor M. Caplan as they explore what makes fictional characters so memorable. During the panel they discuss the difference between ‘favorite’ and ‘memorable’ characters, the waxing and waning popularity of character-driven stories and more. Plus, they each share their top three picks for most memorable characters in SFF, for a total of twelve.
Author Chat: Luke Tarzian
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and self-pub author Luke Tarzian for a chat about his new novelette A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell, Luke’s art background and book/cover design work, mental health and grief, the self-publishing community, balancing satire and emotion, writing as therapy and much more. Of course, as is always the case with Luke, things get pretty naughty by the end.
SFF Addicts Ep. 27: Gods & Mythologies (with Chelsea Abdullah, Dyrk Ashton, Zamil Akhtar & Gabriela Houston)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Chelsea Abdullah, Dyrk Ashton, Gabriela Houston and Zamil Akhtar as they delve into the ancient mysteries of gods, mythologies and folklore. During the panel they discuss mythology as a concept, how culture and curiosity brought mythology into their lives, incorporating gods, mythologies and folklore into their stories, the power of narratives and storytelling traditions, researching and respecting mythological traditions, weird creatures and much more.
Interview: SPSFC 1 Finalists (feat. Hugh Howey & Duncan Swan)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors/SPSFC creators Hugh Howey and Duncan Swan, along with SPSFC 1 finalists Patrice Fitzgerald, T. A. Bruno, Cameron Coral, G. M. Nair, Ben Roberts, Jack Lyster and KT Belt, for a chat about the first year of the competition, lessons learned and how they’ll apply that to SPSFC 2, book pitches from the finalists, thoughts on the self-published sci-fi community, advice for future entrants and much more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 26: Cyberunk (Past, Present, Future) (with Malka Older, T. R. Napper, Lincoln Michel & Craig Lea Gordon)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Malka Older, T. R. Napper, Lincoln Michel and Craig Lea Gordon as they decode the (virtual) realities of cyberpunk’s past, present and future. During the panel they discuss what attracts them to cyberpunk, the genre’s origins in noir, the contrast between cities and apocalyptic landscapes, worn out cyberpunk tropes and aesthetics, big themes like biotech and transhumanism, memory and reality, information and AI, as well as how the genre can be resuscitated in the 21st-century and much more.
Author Chat: Claire North
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and bestselling author Claire North for a chat about her new book Ithaca, her young career beginnings, pen names and passing on your creativity to readers, the power of stories, history, mythology, badass women wielding weapons and much more. And, of course, writing a story about Ithaca, you may wonder, has Claire ever visited the island of Ithaca?
SFF Addicts TV Club: The Sandman S01 Review
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Connor M. Caplan and Liam Quane, as well as book blogger Eleni Argyró, as they review season one of The Sandman. During the panel they discuss their first introductions to The Sandman comic books, first impressions of the new show, character portrayals and the overarching narrative, their highlights from season one and much more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 25: History & Fantasy (with Claire North, Rebecca Roanhorse, Ed McDonald & Vaishnavi Patel)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Claire North, Rebecca Roanhorse, Ed McDonald and Vaishnavi Patel as they delve deep into antiquity, exploring the intersection of history and fantasy. During the panel they discuss what fascinates each of them about history, why fantasy and history play so well together, how history can apply to worldbuilding, character and plot, the freedom of secondary worlds versus the rich lore of mythological retellings, how fictional stories can highlight obscured histories and much more.